Police Think Astoria, Ore., 40-bomb Threat A Hoax

MALIBU, CA - JANUARY 09: Members of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Bomb Squad look for clues at the origin of a wildfire that destroyed four multi-million dollar seaside homes, including the home of actress Suzanne Somers, on January 8 in a fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire fire, on January 9, 2007 in Malibu, California. The fire was relatively small at 20 acres but it damaged five other structures and threatened 30 more expensive homes in a community known for its rich and famous residents. In 1993, three people were killed and hundreds of homes lost in a Santa Ana Wind-driven fire and a wildfire in 1996 injured 11 people and destroyed six homes. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)File photo of members of a bomb squad. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) — Police in Astoria, Ore., say a man’s telephoned threat to detonate 40 bombs in the community at the mouth of the Columbia River is likely a hoax.

Authorities say the man called 911 several times around mid-day Monday to say the bombs had been planted and would detonate at 6:30 p.m. Monday. That deadline passed without any explosions.

Astoria 911 communications manager Jeff Rusckieck tells The Oregonian that the caller told dispatchers he was a terrorist from Pakistan. Rusckieck said the man had a Middle Eastern accent.

In a statement, Police Chief Peter Curzon said, “While Astoria Police Department believes this is probably a hoax, the public should immediately report any suspicious circumstances or items to 911.”

The Daily Astorian reports that one bomb site mentioned was the Astoria-Warrenton Regional Airport. Warrenton police checked and found nothing. Other identified locations were checked as well.